Chiropractic in Malaysia is getting more popular, but how does it work?

The field of chiropractic began in America in 1895 when Daniel David Palmer, a teacher, grocer and magnetic healer, performed an adjustment to a deaf janitor, after noticing an out of place vertebra. He then developed principles that were very similar to those in osteopathy, which had been set out 10 years earlier. Since then, chiropractors have been battling for mainstream acceptance, and it would seem that they are winning the war.

Since 1990, there have been more chiropractors produced all over the world, and the profession is represented strongly by national and global chiropractic associations, that ensure more quality and consistent chiropractic treatment is performed. There are chiropractic schools and certification programs, and chiropractic in Malaysia has seen a growing acceptance within the local community in the last 10 years.

What is the treatment like? Chiropractic adjustments involve chiropractors using their hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint. The goal of chiropractic adjustment, also known as spinal manipulation, is to correct structural alignment and improve your body’s physical function.

Most commonly, chiropractic adjustments are focused on treating lower back pain, neck pain and headaches.

Risks of Chiropractic Adjustments in Malaysia

Chiropractic adjustment is generally safe when it’s performed by someone trained and licensed. Serious complications are rare, but are not unknown, such as:

A ruptured or slipped disc or a worsening of an existing slipped disc condition

Patients who have these conditions should be extremely careful and doctors advise that you don’t seek chiropractic adjustment if you have:

Severe osteoporosis

Numbness, tingling or loss of strength in an arm or leg

Cancer in your spine

An increased risk of stroke

Excessive motion in the spine (instability)

Each chiropractic adjustment is fairly quick, lasting about 10-15 minutes. However the charges for chiropractic in Malaysia can be around RM80 per 10-15 minute adjustment. Furthermore, chiropractors will try to sign patients up for multiple session packages. We have heard from our patients and physiotherapists about packages for even 50 quick sessions that can cost many thousands of ringgit!

Chiropractors in Malaysia also have started to incorporate other services such as physiotherapy. These are services that are more focused on areas not directly connected to your spine, such as your legs or arms. However, patients should consider whether a chiropractor is the best place to seek treatment for conditions not directly related to the spine since spinal adjustments are what chiropractic treatment is all about after all. Why go to a chiropractor for physiotherapy when there are more specialised physiotherapists in Malaysia?

Does Chiropractic Actually Work?

Many chiropractic patients report seeing benefits from the treatment. As a drugless option, chiropractic adjustments can be helpful for treating lower back pain. However, most research done show that chiropractic sessions only provide only a modest benefit – similar to the results of more conventional treatments like physiotherapy.

There are many articles about whether chiropractic works online, such as: